Seized propstands!

"4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30" (4muddyfeet) 02/23/2015 at 10:40 • Filed to: bigasstrailer

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Help me out Oppo. On my nice new old trailer, the rear propstands are completely seized.

I've let them soak in WD40 for one night, Tri-flow the next night, then stuck them in the vice and tried a 2lb hammer and 4lb maul. No shifty shifty. There's no visible rust on any of the thread or on the collet.

Today I've tried heat and a breaker bar and still no movement. What are my next steps short of leaving them on for decorative purposes?

crowmolly > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 10:43

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Maybe this:

1.) Get a rubbermaid container with a lid, put 50/50 ATF/Acetone in it, throw the stands in there, and then seal the lid overnight. Try to free it.

2.) If that fails, break out the oxy/acet torch. Propane will probably not do it. Standard "pencil" tip, maybe a rosebud.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > crowmolly 02/23/2015 at 10:48

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ATF as in slushbox fluid? I'll give it a go!

I don't have an oxy/acet torch, only But65/Prop35. Because of the proximity to the spinny bar, it was getting hot enough that the bar was bending under stress. I can only assume oxy/acet will turn it into a pretzel before the thread comes loose.

jariten1781 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 10:49

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My next step would be to clamp them, then strap on the come-along, hide behind some temporary plywood barrier or something, pray nothing was going to shatter and impale me, then pull.

CalzoneGolem > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 10:51

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From my understanding you don't need to try to move it while heating it's the heat/cool cycle that'll break the threads free.

whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 10:53

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I highly recommend PB Blaster or similar penetrating oil. WD is great for some things, but it is a water displacer and not a lubricant or penetrant and shouldn't be expected to work as such. Soak it in penetrant, let it wit, and with a little heat it should come right free.

davedave1111 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 10:57

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Maybe a stupid question, but I'd kind of expect them to have some kind of arrangement to lock them in place so they don't rattle their way down while towing - perhaps there's a grub screw like the one holding the bar in place or something, which you haven't noticed?

Failing that, a screw is a lever that can work in either direction. Normally you put torque on the head, and the screw-thread turns that into linear force, but if you push on the end of the screw/bolt, it'll turn that force to torque. Which means, I think, that you actually have a good chance of freeing it up by waling on the foot with a hammer. If you have an assistant and you can do that at the same time as trying to turn it the normal way, that might work.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 11:12

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Get rid of the WD-40, it is useless as a penetrant oil. If you can come up with some Sili-Kroil spray that into the threads and let it soak overnight. If that doesn't loosen it up go with heat and after getting it good and hot dump it into a tub of COLD water. Like ice water levels of cold if you can do that. The heat/cold cycle will expand and the quickly contract things and might be enough to break everything loose.

This is assuming the ATF/acetone trick doesn't work for you.

Sili Kroil is amazing stuff and is what we use at work. I've seen it loosen up some stuff that looks like it is never going to move again.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > CalzoneGolem 02/23/2015 at 11:18

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I've been a bit premature then. I'll go and give it another knock now it's cooled. Thanks :)

crowmolly > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 11:21

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Yep, an expansion/cooling cycle.

And yes, ATF. Might be a longshot but a complete soak might get the fluid into the tight spots.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > davedave1111 02/23/2015 at 11:21

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They rotate to horizontal for transport, and I've checked for grub screws; the only one there is to hold the spinny bar(?) in place. I've whacked it with a heavy hammer a good few times and it's done nothing but vibrate my grey matter!

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 02/23/2015 at 11:30

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I'll see what I can find, I've certainly never seen it before. The Tri-flow is a teflon based lubricant which normally works a treat, but I'm left suffering right now :/

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 12:01

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For work we buy direct from the manufacturer but you have to buy it a case at a time. I've never seen it in stores, but I did check Amazon and they have it for about $10/can. It's expensive, but by far the best stuff I've ever used.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 02/23/2015 at 12:03

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$21.01 for me :( I'm in the UK

davedave1111 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 12:05

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As far as hammering goes, I was thinking of really hitting it properly with a big sledgehammer or something. And at the same time as using the heat/breaker bar methods.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 02/23/2015 at 13:47

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Ouch, it's good, but I don't know if it's that good. I use it because I have access to it at work.